Reversing mechanism.



I Patented Feb. ll, I902.

No. 692,895. I

W. N'AHRWOLT.

REVERSING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 190k.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES W INVENTOH UNITED I STATES PATENT I FFIcE.

WILLIAM NAHRWOLT, or FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

REVERSING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,895, dated February 11, 1902.

Application filed August 28, 1901. SerialNo. 73,554. (No model.)

panying drawings, which form partof this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in reversing mechanism specially designed and adapted for alternately reversing the agitator-shaft of washing-machines. It is well known that where the agitator-shaft is reversed at each revolution thereof its motion is necessarily slower than if it were reversed with less frequency, and consequently the agitating action is less efficient.

The primary obj ect,therefore,of my present invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and

efficient reversing mechanism for washingmachines positive and reliable in operation and so constructed and arranged that the rotary motion of the power-shaft will be so transformed into alternating motion in the agitator-shaft that each alternation will occur at the end of every second revolution of the actuating-gears on the agitator-shaft instead of at every revolution thereof for the purpose ofv increasing the efficiency of the agitating action.

My invention consists of a pair of horizontal bevel gear-wheels loosely mounted on the upper end of a vertical agitator-shaft, which is revolubly mounted in proper bearings in an upright bracket or supportingframe, which may be fixed -to the suds-box lid'or other proper support, and carries, as usual, a proper fixed agitator upon its lower extremity," a horizontally arranged power shaft mounted in suitable bearings, provided upon its outer end with suitable means for actuating the same and carrying upon its inner end a fixed bevel-pinion in cooperative relation with the said bevel-gears, and apivotally-connected detent pivotally mounted on the said agitator-shaft intermediate of the said gears and adapted for an actuating engagement withthe said pinion and also with the gears alternately at each two and one-half revolutions'of the said pinion for the purpose of imparting to the agitator-shaft an alternating motion at each second revolution thereof from the continuous rotary motion of the power-shat t in either direction.

The principal novel feature of my improve-v ment resides in the means for reversing the direction of rotation of the agitator-shaft at every second revolution thereof.

Similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improvement in its operative position in its supporting-bracket, the lower portion of the agitator-shaft being broken away and the gears and pinion are also partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same with the upper gear removed and the supporting -bracket casting and upright agitator-shaft in crosssection. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of the connecting-plate by which the twopart pawl is pivotally united. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of one section of the reversing-detent with the impinging-spring therein broken away in part. Fig. 5 is a detail edge View of the said two-part spring.

The upright metallic bracket or supportingframe 1 of common form has an integral base 2 and an extended arm 3.

In suitable bearings land 5 in the frame 1 is rotatabl y mounted the upper end of the upright agitator-shaft 6, adapted to carry upon its lower end a fixed agitator of any proper form whose operation is well understood.

The bevel gear-wheels 7 and -8 are loosely mounted on the agitator-shaft 6 within the said frame 1. These gear-wheels preferably have just forty cogs each, and the meshing pinion, hereinafter mentioned, has thirty-two cogs.

In a proper horizontal bearing 9 in the'frame 1 is rotatably mounted the horizontal powershaft 10, carrying upon its inner end the fixed pinion 11 in an actuating engagement with the said gear-wheels, as shown in Fig. 1. At a suitable point on the inner face of the said pinion is fixed a pin 12, onwhich is loosely mounted a metallic sleeve or roller 13, whose function is about to be described. Between the said gear-wheels are arranged the twopart detent, consisting of the pawls 14 and 15, which are pivotally mounted on the agitator-shaft and adapted for a limited rocking movement thereon. These pawls 14 and are identical in construction and have their free end provided with a horizontal beveled terminal lug 16, Fig. 4., adapted to engage the said roller 18 at a predetermined point in the rotation of the agitator-shaft, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the same in the manner hereinafter to be described. The other end of the said pawls is bifurcated or vertically slotted, as shown. In the outer end of this bifurcation is pivotally mounted the vertically-arranged bar 17 by means of the transverse pins 18,whose ends are secured in any proper manner, whereby the corresponding ends of the said pawls are constantly maintained in a fixed relation by the said bar 17 in all positions of their rocking movement. I

The extended ends of this upright bar 17 are adapted for a holding engagement alternately with the upright lugs 19 and on the inner and adjacent faces of the said gear-wheels 7 and 8, respectively, as shown-in Fig. 1. At any suitable point in the said bifurcation is arranged a spring consisting of the two parts or pieces 21 and 22, Figs. 4 and 5, each piece having its ends bent outwardly and having its upper ends perforated and loosely mounted on the pin 23, whose ends are secured in the said pawl 14:. The lower ends of the said springhang free in the bifurcation of the pawl 15 and bindingly impinge upon the sides thereof.

The pawls 11 and 15 are so constructed as to be nicely balanced on their pivotal support, and the impingement of the bent ends of the said spring against the sides of the bifurcations of the said pawls will tlrmlysecure them in the uppermost limit of their adjustment, while at the same time permitting an easy return movement to the lowest limit of their adjustment in the manner about to be described.

The operation and manner of employing my improved reversing mechanism are briefly stated as follows: When the gears 7 and 8 have each just forty cogs and the meshing pinion 11 has just thirty-two cogs, the gears can be so arranged relative to each other and the said pinion that the gears will make two complete revolutions and the pinion two and one-half revolutions between the alternating reversals of the agitator-shaft. There is but one relative position, however, in which the pinion must be set to secure this alternating reversal. In use this position is indicated by proper marks on all the wheels, whereby when the mechanism is taken apart it can readily be put together again by the operator in its proper relations. When the gear-wheels and pinion are in their proper cooperative relation, the position of the interlocking pawls is of course wholly immaterial, as they will be adjusted by the moving gears. These pawls are so tilted that the lower end of the plate 17 will holdingly engage the lug 20 on the lower gear-wheel 8 by the engagement of the sleeve or roller 13 with the lower face of the lug 16 of the upper pawl 14:, as shown in Fig. 1. The roller 13 materially lessens the friction incident to its actuating engagement with the said pawls. After the agitator-shaft 6 has made two revolutions in the direction determined byits locked engagement with the wheel 8 the arrangement of the pinion 11 is such that it will have made two and one-half revolutions, and the said roller 13 will engage the upper face of the lug 16 of the lower pawl 15, thereby forcing it downward, whereby the upper end of the pivoted plate 17 will be forced upward into a holding engagement with the lug 19 on the upper wheel 7, whereby the direction of the rotation of the agitator-shaft, as well as that of the gears, will be reversed.

The'power-shaft 10 can of course be rotated by any suitable power.

My improvement is thusposit-ive and reliable in operation, has small liability of getting out of repair, and-reverses at each second evolution of the agitator-shaft, and the power-shaft can be rotated in either direction with equal facility.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination of a vertical shaft;

oppositely rotatable gear-wheels mounted on said shaft; means for operating the wheels; a power-shaft; an actuating-pinion on said power-shaft in mesh with said wheels, and provided upon its inner face at or near its periphery with a projecting pin or lug; and a two-part detent pivoted on said vertical shaft between the said gear-wheels, adapted to be thrown into an interlocked engagement with said wheels alternately at each second revolution thereof by means of said pin or lug. 2. A reversing mechanism consisting of a vertical shaft, a pair of rotatable gear-wheels loosely mounted on said shaft; a meshing pinion adapted to actuate said wheels; and a detent pivotally-mounted on the shaft and consisting of two duplicate sections whose inner ends are provided with aterminal lug adapted to alternately form an actuating engagement with the meshing pinion, and having'their outer ends pivotally connected and adapted to be alternately, interlocked with said gearwheels at every second revolution thereof.

3. In a reversing mechanism av revoluble shaft; a pair of gear-wheels loosely mounted on said shaft; means for actuating the said ICC gear-wheels; a two-part detent pivotally v Witnesses:

ADELAIDE KEARNS, AUGUSTA VIBERG. 

